Mounting for recessed lighting fixtures



Oct. 21, 1952 K. VERSEN 2,614,785 MOUNTING FOR RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Oct. 20, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS --SHEET 1 INVENTOR, KUR VERSEN A TTOENEY Q 1952 K. v'snsu -:Y26'1 j8 MOUNTING FOR RECESSEQ I'GHTINGYIXMES H Filed Oct. 20, 1949 2 IIII// INVENTOR. KURT VERSEN ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUNTING FOIiEZfEZSED LIGHTING FIXTUR 9. Claims.

for recessed fixtures such as recessed? ceiling lighting" fixtures.

Recessed ceiling lighting fixtures, i. e. lighting fixtures mounted within and above the .ceiling rather than below the ceiling, are normally mounted on a. plaster frame, e. g. an annular plaster ring; which may or may not have an overhead yoke. The support is seated on or secured to the ceiling. Normally the frame is in the form of a ring, but for rectangular fixtures it may have a rectangular shape.

The present invention is concerned more particularly with a particular means of mounting the plaster frame or support on and secure it to ceilings or walls. I

Themounting of plaster rings or supports in existing plaster ceilings or in dry ceilings, i. e. ceilings of plywood, precast sheet rock or, other panels, e. g. insulating panels, is normally'a tedlous and difiicult job. It is normal practice to cutahole in such existing plaster ceilings, insert the plaster ring and tie it to the lath and then replaster or refinish the ceiling, whereafter, the fixture is attached to theplaster ring or the yoke, if any. Existing hung ceilings of dry panel construction do not permit subsequent installation from below of recessed fixtures, as they require wooden or metalbraces, or frames, above the hung ceiling anchpred to its frame construction to obtain rigid vertical mounting surfaces for fixtures or their plasterrings. The small ceiling opening of most recessed fixtures makes the space above hung ceilings inaccessible for such work.

It is one object of this invention to provide a simple method of mounting such plaster frame on existing plaster ceilings or dry ceilings. It is another object of this invention to provide means for so effectively mounting such frames. Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the description thereof hereinafter following.

The accompanying drawings forming part hereof, illustrates the invention. In the drawmgs:

Fig. 1 represents an elevational view of a plaster ring and yoke mounted on a ceiling, in section; by means of' the mounting means of this invention,

Figs. 2 and 3 represent elevational views of the unassembled mounting means of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 represents an elevational view of a part of Fig. l,

Fig; 5 representsan elevational view of modified plaster ring and yoke mounted on a ceiling,

as an abutment.

2 in section, by means of the mounting means: of: this invention,

Figs. 6 and '7 represent elevational views. of. a part. of the mounting means employed in. the embodiment of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 represents an elevation view of a: part of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 9 represents a view on the line of 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5 I have shown. the customary ceiling I andthe plaster ring or-support 2 in the general plane of the ceiling: and which in Fig. l is shown to consist of afiatringv with upper flange 3 and in Fig. 5 is shown to consist of a channel-shaped strip with upper flange 3 and lower flange 4, and secured to the plaster ringthe overhead yoke or bridge. 5" customarily formed, for purposes of strength and rigidity; of channel-shaped, metal strip;

The mounting means are shown more. particu. larly in Figs. 2, 3 and 6-7.

Referring first to the embodiment of 1 the mounting means comprise a pair of angle clips shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The clip shown in Fig. 2 comprises a base p1ate6 and a right-angle wall I, the base plate 6 being provided with an orifice or screw hole (not shown) and a nut 8, which is advantageously held in place by means of clamps (not shown) or: is integral with the plate, although so-called floating nuts are to be preferred due to the flexibility of their location which is desirable in practical assembly. The clip shown in Fig. 3 likewise consists of a bottom plate 9 and right-angle wall III. The bottom plate 9 is provided with a similar-orifice or screw hole I I for the screw I2. The upper edge of the wall I0 is provided with an offset tab l3 which is relatively narrow compared to the width of the wall II]. The lowermost bottom plate 9 is advantageously kept as shortas possible, so that it can be covered bythe ceiling flange. of the fixture proper.

The assembly of the mounting means is. relatively simple. The clip of Fig. 3 is slipped under the plaster ring 2 from the inside, and therewith also under the ceiling I, and tab 13 ispassed through the slot 14 of the yoke 5 which. acting against the recessed portion of the tab l3 serves The clip of Fig. 2-is placed on top of the ceiling I with its back wall I against the yoke 5. Both clips are then bolted together by means of the vertically operative. screw I2, until the ceiling I is in a vise-like grip between the plates 6 and 9. In the embodiment of'Fig. l.

" I have shown two such fastening means, by

which the plaster ring 2 and yoke are firmly secured to the ceiling I.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly difierent embodiment in that the fastening means are secured directly to the plaster ring 2. In this case the clip with bottom plate 6 is provided with a center wall I 6at right angle theretoand screw hole l5, as shown in Fig. 6, rather than with a rear wall 'I', as was illustrated in Fig. 2. Since the embodiment shows the fastening means attached to the plaster ring 2, slots M are provided within this plaster ring, as shown in Fig. 8, to receive the tab l3 of the rear plate, Fig. 3, and the front plate, Fig. 6, is mounted with its bottom plate 6 lying on the upper surface of the ceiling I. The lower flange 4 is also provided with a screw hole I! aligned with the slot I l. Bolt I2 then bolts the plates 6 and 9 together, in a manner similar to that illustrated in connection with Fig. 1. In this instance the vertically operative fastening means [2 may also pass through the orifice l'l.

Although I have described and illustrated my invention in connection with a plaster ring serving as a base for an overhead yoke, it will be understood that the invention is likewise applicable to plaster rings without yokes, in which case the fixture is secured directly to the plaster ring, whereas in the case of plaster ring and yoke combinations the lighting fixture is customarily secured to the yoke. For rectangular fixtures the plaster frame may be of rectangular, rather than annular shape.

The yoke 5 may be secured in any suitable manner to the plaster ring 2. In Fig. 1 it extends down over the entire width of the plaster ring and, hence, the slots I4 are provided in such yoke, close to, but above the plaster ring 2. In Fig. 5 yoke 5 is secured to the top flange of the plaster ring 2 and, hence, the slots M are provided in the plaster ring.

My invention consists, therefore, in means for mounting, for recessed ceilin lighting fixtures or other recessed fixtures, the plaster frame, including yoke, if any, to ceilings such as dry ceilings or existing plaster ceilings, in a manner designed to produce a firm attachment of the frame to the ceiling as the result of the vise-like grip on the ceiling by the cooperating bolted-together angular clips, one inside the plaster frame and underlying the ceiling and one outside the plaster frame and overlying the ceiling. the right angle wall of the outer clip acting laterally against the offset tab of the inner clip to create, with the perpendicular action of the screw or bolt, the vise-like grip on the ceiling and on the plaster ring or yoke, thus securing them together. Cumbersome refinishing of the ceiling after mounting of the ring is eliminated. Likewise, this construction affords repeated instant removal of the fixture after installation for access to the wiring connections.

I The wall 1 presses against the tab l3 of the cooperating clip and thus prevents it from coming loose. Where the plaster frame consists of a solid band iron ring or frame without flanges the projecting tab l3 may rest directly against the wall of the mounting ring or frame.

For each ring there are at least two, preferably three, cooperating pairs of clips.

The term ceiling as used in the appended claims is intended to mean existing plaster ceilings and the so-called dry ceilings. The invention is applicable,likewise, to mounting electrical fixtures, such as lighting fixtures, in vertical Walls.

What I claim is:

1. A ceiling or wall mounting for recessed fixtures, comprising a support for the fixture, said support being disposed in the plane of the ceiling or wall, the support having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of pairs of cooperating ceiling gripping means to fasten said support to the ceiling or wall, each said pairs consisting of two angular clips having a bottom plate and a rightangle upwardly projecting wall, an orifice in the bottom plate of each clip, one of said clips having at the upper end of its right-angle Wall an inwardly projecting tab having a width not in excess of the width of the said slot in said support, the clip with the upwardly projecting tab encompassing said support on its lower side and having its bottom plate disposed against the lower surface of the ceiling or wall, the projecting tab passing through the slot of said support, the other clip being disposed on the outside of said support vertically above the cooperating clip, and having its right-angle wall resting against said support and its bottom plate disposed against the upper surface of the ceiling or wall, and fastening means operative at a right angle passing through said orifices of said bottom plates to pull said clips together, whereby said ceiling or wall is gripped between the said clips.

2. A ceiling or wall mounting according to claim 1 wherein the projecting tab of the lowermost clip rests against the right-angle side wall of the uppermost clip.

3. A ceiling mounting for recessed lighting fixtures, comprising a support for the lighting fixture, said support being disposed in the plane of the ceiling, the support having a plurality of horizontal slots, and a plurality of pairs of cooperating ceiling gripping means to fasten said support to the ceiling, each said pairs consisting of two angular clips having a bottom plate and a right-angle upwardly projectin Wall, an orifice in the bottom plate ofeach clip, one of said clips havin at the upper end of its right-angle wall an inwardly projecting tab having a width not in excess of the width of the said slot in said support, the clip with the upwardly projecting tab encompassing said support on its lower side and having its bottom plate disposed against the lower surface of the ceiling, the projecting tab passing through the slot of said support, the other clip being disposed on the outside of said support vertically above the cooperating clip, and having its right-angle wall resting against said support and its bottom plate disposed against the upper surface of the ceiling, and vertically operative fastenin means passing through said orifices of said bottom plates to vertically pull said clips together, whereby said ceiling is gripped between the said clips.

l. A ceiling or wall mounting for recessed fixtures comprising a support for the fixture, said support being disposed in the plane of the ceiling or wall, the support having a plurality of slots, a plurality of pairs of cooperating gripping means to fasten said support to the ceiling or wall, each of said pairs consisting of two angular clips each having a bottom plate and a rightangle upwardly projecting Wall, an orifice in the bottom plate of each clip, one of said clips having a projecting tab on the upwardly projecting wall thereof, said tab having a width not in excess of the width of one of said slots in said support, said tab projecting first outwardly of the said wall of said clip and then substantially parallel to the surface of the said wall, one of said clips encompassing said support on its lower side and having its bottom plate disposed against the lower surface of the ceiling or wall, the other clip being disposed on the outside of said support vertically above the cooperating clip and having its right-angle wall resting against said support and its bottom plate disposed against the upper surface of the ceiling or wall, the projecting tab passing through one of said slots of said support, and fastening means passing through the orifices of the bottom plates of both of said clips to pull said clips together whereby said ceiling or wall is gripped between the said clips.

5. A ceiling or wall mounting for recessed fixtures comprising a mounting frame disposed in the plane of the ceiling or wall and a yoke structure bridging said frame and recessed in said ceiling or wall, the mounting having a plurality of slots, a plurality of pairs of cooperating gripping means to fasten said mountin to the ceiling or wall, each of said pairs consisting of two angular clips each having a bottom plate and a right-angle upwardly projecting wall, an orifice in the bottom plate of each clip, one of said clips having a projecting tab on the upwardly projecting wall thereof, said tab having a width not in excess of the width of one of said slots in said mounting, said tab projecting first outwardly of said wall of said clip and then substantially parallel to the surface of the said wall, one of said clips encompassing said mounting frame on its lower side and having its bottom plate disposed against the lower surface of the ceiling or wall, the other clip being disposed on the outside of said mounting vertically above the cooperating clip and havin its right-angle wall resting against said mounting and its bottom plate disposed against the upper surface of the ceiling or wall, the projecting tab passing through one of said slots of said mounting, and fastening means passing through the orifices of the bottom plates of both of said clips to pull said clips together whereby said ceiling or wall is gripped between the said clips.

6. A ceiling or wall mounting according to claim 5 wherein said projecting tab rests against a Wall of said yoke.

7. A ceiling or wall mounting according to claim 5 wherein the projecting tab of the lowermost clip rests against the wall of the mounting frame.

8. A ceiling or wall mounting for recessed fixtures comprisin a support for the fixture, said support being disposed in the plane of the ceiling or wall, the support having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, a plurality of cooperating grippin means to fasten said support to the ceiling or wall, each of said gripping means consisting of an angular clip having a base plate and a right-angle wall, one of said clips being an outer clip having its base plate disposed against the outer surface of the ceiling or wall, another one of said clips bein an inner clip having its is gripped between said base plates.

9. A ceiling or Wall mounting according to claim 8, wherein said support comprises a ringshaped frame.

KURT VERSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,249,331 Sachs July 156, 1941 

